A great assembly gathered, filled with the mighty Gaṇas—Aśani, Bhāsaka, and sixty-four Sahasrapāt among them, along with countless others of immense strength. Each Gaṇa bore a thousand arms, their matted locks piled high like crowns, adorned with crescent moons. Their throats were blue, their faces marked by three eyes, and their bodies decorated with necklaces, earrings, armlets, crowns, and other ornaments. They shone with power, resembling Brahmā, Indra, and Viṣṇu, and possessed supernatural abilities beginning with aṇimā. These lords of the Gaṇas, radiant as ten million suns, arrived from the netherworlds and all realms of existence. Tuṃbaru, Nārada, Hāhā, Hūhū, and the singers of Sāma also came, bringing precious jewels and musical instruments to the city. The sages, rich in ascetic merit, gathered joyfully and recited auspicious marriage mantras. As all assembled from every direction, Girijā, the pure-smiling daughter of the snowy mountain, adorned herself with her own hand. Keśava—Viṣṇu himself—led her into the city, where the assembly addressed Nārāyaṇa, the unborn Lord of gods. They spoke: “You were born at the beginning, along with Bhavānī and the gods; Bhavānī from the left side of Rudra, and I, O Lord, from the right. My form is the Lord of the snowy mountain, created for sacrifice; this daughter of Himavat was born by the Māyā of the Supreme Lord. For the sake of Vedic and Smṛti rites, and for the wedding, I am here; she sustains the worlds and is creator for you and for me. This world is established by the forms of Rudra: earth, fire, moon, sun, wind, and ether arise from him. Yet, by the word of the Mountain and myself, she must be given to him. She is unborn, white, black, and red—she is Nature, O Lord. This alliance with the king of mountains is auspicious for you as well; in the lotus you were born, and in the kalpa I arose from the navel-lotus.” Janārdana, the Lord of gods, replied, “Indeed, you are the guru for both this mountain, full of pride, and for me as well.” Then all the gods and sages, together with Śaṅkara and Padmanābha, rose and bowed to Girijā. The lotus-eyed one, Viṣṇu, washed the feet of the god with his own hands, and sprinkled water on his own head, as well as on the heads of Brahmā and the Mountain. He declared, “She is my younger sister, Menā’s daughter, and is to be given in marriage to you,” and thus gave her, with water, to the Lord of gods. Hari also gave himself, with water, to the god. All the foremost sages, learned in the Vedas, said, “The giver, the receiver, the fruit, and the substance—considering all, this god Hara is surely the universe by his māyā.” Having spoken thus, they bowed to him, their skin bristling with joy. Celestial beings, Siddhas, and Cāraṇas showered flowers from the sky. Divine drums resounded, the Apsarases danced, and the embodied Vedas bowed to the great Lord. With Brahmā and the sages, the Lord of gods, husband of Umā, gazed upon the daughter of the snowy mountain, who stood bashful before him. He could not be satiated in beholding her flawless form, and she too gazed at the god bearing the bull-banner. She said to Hari, “I grant you a boon,” and Hari addressed Śaṅkara: “May devotion to you flourish.” She granted him the name Brahmā. Then Brahmā spoke, requesting, “I offer oblations into the fire, being established as preceptor. If you grant permission, let the unperformed rite now be done.” Śaṅkara, Lord of gods and of the universe, replied, “O best of gods, whatever you desire, do as you wish.” Brahmā bowed and joyfully declared, “I will perform all that you command, O Lord of gods, Grandfather.” With a glad heart, Brahmā joined the hands of the goddess and the god, the supreme Lord; Fire himself appeared, hands joined in reverence. With Vedic mantras embodied and present, and according to the prescribed rite, Brahmā offered parched grains in the fire, step by step. Viṣṇu brought the Brāhmaṇas and honored them with gifts, and Brahmā had the god Fire circumambulated three times. Then, releasing their joined hands, all the gods, celestial and human beings, rejoiced inwardly. Brahmā bowed to the god of gods, consort of Umā, and offered water for washing the feet and for sipping to Śambhu. He presented madhuparka and a cow, and after bowing again to Śiva, stood with the gods, Indra at their head. All the sages beginning with Bhṛgu, and the Sun and others, worshipped the Bull-bannered One with unbroken rice, sesame, and parched grain, and praised him. Śiva, having completed the rites spoken by the gods and having placed the fire within himself, was united with her—Rudra, for the welfare of all worlds. Whoever recites or hears the marriage of Bhava, or has it recited to pure twice-borns learned in the Veda and its branches, with a pure smile, attains the favor of Gaṇeśa and rejoices together with Bhava. Wherever this is proclaimed by the learned, Bhava himself abides. Therefore, O twice-borns, having worshipped properly, one should recite this and not otherwise, at the weddings of the best of Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas. This entire, unsurpassed account of the marriage of Bhava should be proclaimed; thus the Bull-bannered One was wedded to the goddess, the daughter of Himavat.